Art of packaging fruit and the like



Jan. y

H. R. BLACK ART 0F PACKAGING FRUIT AND THE LiKE Filed Dec. 27, 1925 2Sheatw-Shwt 1 Jan. 2,6 w26.:

H. R BLACK ART OF PACKAGING FRUIT AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 2 7, 1923 'r3Sheetsheiat 2 Fmg..

Patented .lam 26, 192th HUGH' E. BLACK, OF HALL, NEW YORK.

ART 0F PACKAGING FRUIT AND THE LIKE.

Application filed December 27, 182-3.

'To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, HUGH R. BLACK, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residi ng at Hall, in the county of Ontario and State of NewYork., have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Art ofPackaging; Fruit and the like, of which the following' is aspecification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in the art ofpackaging` fruit and the like and has particular'reference to thesettling' of fruit and the-like into proper transportable condition insuitable containers.

In packing" fruit7 such as apples, it is the present custom to employsettling' platforms npon which the shipping containers are placed whilethey are beinp; filled.

I am familiar with the various different types of settling,- platformsdisclosed in .the art, but none of these platforms are especiallyadapted for such work due to the fact that the different mechanismsemployed for actuating' the platforms are not controllable r forpermitting the intensity of the jolts produced to be varied. Such acontrol is desirable` as will appear at a later point. Vlhese settling;lplatforms are usually arranged to be driven from a single shaft and arepreferably directly connected thereto. lWith snch an arrangement, itwill be seen that all of the platforms are operated in unison. The mostcommon mechanism employed for actuating snch platforms, and it might bewell to note mat all of thc different types of mechanism now in usepossess the same disadvantanes consists of a common drive shaft. and anindividual cam for each platform keyed to said shaft. These cams usuallybear directly against the under snrface of the moval'nle platform andafter the highest portion of the cam has passed under the platform.y thelatter is dropped upon a rigid support which usually the floor. Thedropping' of the platforms produce thc j olts that are employed forsettling' the fruit in their containers. lt will be seen by thisarrangement that as soon as a container is placed upon a platform itstarts receiving jolts and the jolting continues until the container isrenioved.

Barrels are usually employed as containers for transporting apples.Before they are placed upon the settling platforms to be packed, thebottom of each is provided with Serial No. 683,015.

a facer which consists of a layer of the bestv or selected apples placedin substantially concentric circles with the stems down.' The' barrelsso prepared are then placed upon the platforms. As has been stated, withthe types of settling` platforms now in' use', the barrels andcontainers are immediately subjected to jolts. Such joltingv of theapples at this stage of the operation is objectionable as it has atendency to dislodge the fruit forming the facer. This objection cannotbe overcome with the present types of settling platforms.

As the packingn operation proceeds, the barrels on the platforms arefilled. by 'dumping` basketsful'of` apples thereinto. It will beapparent, to those skilled in the art, that a barrel having` a facer7and one basketful' of apples therein shouldnot receive and does notrequire as severe a jolt to settle the fruit as a barrel more nearlyfilled.z However,` the present types of plat-forms do not permitadequate adjustment or reduction of the intensity of the jolt: at thistime, nor in fact, do they permit an adequate adj nstinent at any time.

During" a days operation, itoften happens that the supply of unpackedapples at a partieular settling plat-form will be exhausted and a newsupply will not be immediately furnished. -It also, often happens that apartially filled barrel vwill be on this partipular platform when-thesupply is exhaustet. upon the platform and its contents subjected tojolts for a relatively long` time,the apples will be in danger vofbeine'bruised. With the present types of settling` platforms, it`

becomes necessary to remove the partially filled barrel until a newsupply of unpacked apples is furnished.

ln reference to the intensity of the jolts produced by thesettlingplatforms disclosed in the art, it is admitted that there is acertain amount of variation in suchintensity d urina' the loading of abarrel. ln consideringr the cam 'operated type@ it will be seen that theplatform is elevated'duringthe op-- eration of the cam to apredetermin'ed;never-l varying height from which itis'dropped.' .lyconsidering` that this height is equal to' one foot. for the purpose 'ofsimplifyingtl'ie explanation7 it will be seen that if a barrel and itscontents weighing; Voney onnd is dropped from .the height fof one foot,-rit will f this partially filled barrel is left` receive a jolt equal inintensity or energy to one foot-pound. If the barrel and its contentsweighs tive pounds and the same are dropped from the aforementionedheight, the energy or intensity of the jolt will equal tive foot-pounds,etc. rThis use of a` well settled rule of gravity is the only means thancan be employed in the present type of settling platforms for varyingthe intensity of the jolt applied to the apples being packed.

lt is an important object of this invention to provide a method ofpacking fruit and the like, wherein the contents of the container arecaused to settle into transportable condition by an intermittent joltingaction applied to the container during filling of the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a settling platformhaving` means for operating the same which is controllable for producingjolts of different intensity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a settling platformhaving means for operating` the same in such a manner that the platformwill be moved while unloaded but will not be subjected to a joltingaction.

A further object of the invent-ion is to provide a settling platformadapted to produce a jolting action for performing its required work butthe jolting` action will not start until a predetermined load has beenplaced upon the platform.

A further object of the invention is to provide a settling platformwhich performs its work by providing a jolting action and is constructedin such a manner that the intensity of the jolt produced thereby will beincreased progressively in proportion to the increase in load weightplaced thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a settling platform ofthe above mentioned type which is provided with means for increasing ordecreasing the iutensity of the produced jolt during operation underload and for preventing the production of any jolt, while loaded, if notdesired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forproducing jars or jolts which are communicated to a load carriedthereby, and the apparatus is of such a construction that the intensityof the ars or jolts will increase in proportion to the increase of loadplaced thereupon, the jarring or jolting action being produced bydropping the load onto a rigid support, and the increase in theintensity of the jars or jolts being produced by automatically droppingthe load from increasing heights with the heights increasinglproportionately with the increase in the load.

in. the accompanying drawings forming 'partait this speeiiicatiim and inwhich like nume 'als are employed to designate like vparts through thesame,

Figure l is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the settlingplatform embodying this invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view, part-ly in plan view, takenupon line lil-Il of Fig. l,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail view taken upon line III-IH of Fig. 1,

Figure It is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of themechanism embodying this invention,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken upon line V-V of Fig. Il,

Figure G is a fragmentary eleyational view of a drive shaft and aneccentric which is employed for operating the mechanism,

Figure 7 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, of Fig. 6,

Figure 8 is a. diagrammatical view of the apparatus embodying thisinvention taken at one stage of its cycle of operation,

Figure 9 is a similar view to Fig. 8 and shows the apparatus at a laterstage,

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figs. 9) and 9 and shows the apparatus ata still later stage,

Figure 11 is a diagrammatical view of the apparatus and shows one stageduring the operation of the same while the platform is unloaded, and

Figure l2 is an elevational view of a simple. manually operable.apparatus which einbodies tlie same principles of operation as thepreferred type of apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to l1 inclusive.

rlbe principles embodied in this method of packaging fruit and the likemay he clearly and easily described by referring to the simple, manuallyoperable apparatus illustrated in Fig. l2. l'n this figure, thecharacter G illustrates the ground upon which is mounted a bracket 5which is adapted for having pivotally secured thereto, as at, 6, aplatform 7 which is provided with a spacing block 8 depending therefrom.It will be seen that this spacing block S positions the outer free end7a of the platform a suitable distance from the ground for permittingthe roller 9 carried by the outer` lower end of the substantiallyl.shaped lever 10 to be placed therebenmth. This Lshaped lever l0 isprovided with a pair of depending, spaced legs 1l to which is rotatablysecured a wheel l2.

The operation of this apparatus is as foilows:-

lVhen a barrel is placed upon the platform 'l and is in a condition tobe packed with fruit or the like, the roller 9 may he moved under theprojecting end T of the platform and the sustantially L-shaped lever l()pivot ed upon its fulcrum point or point of engagement with the g und ilwhich consists of the wheel 12. The pivoting of this lever 10 into itsdotted line position will elevate the platform 7 and the containerplaced thereupon to the elevation shown in dotted lines. If the lever 10is moved so that the roller 9 will be disengaged from the end 7fl of theplatform 7, the said platform will be allowed to drop until the spacingblock S strikes the ground G. The container and its contents willreceive a jolt when the platform strikes the ground Gr. If the lever 10is again positioned with the roller 9 in engagement with theundersurface of the projecting end of the platform 7 and the platform iselevated to a greater height than that shown in dotted lines, theremoval of the lever 10 will cause the platform and the object placedthereupon to receive a. jolt of increased intensity when the spacerblock 8 strikes the floor line G. It will be seen that the intensity-ofthe jolt produced may be increased or decreased, as desired, by varyingthe height at which the platform is dropped. It willbe noted that thisincrease or decrease in the intensity of the olt is supplemental to theincrease of the intensity of the jolt produced by increasing the weightof the object placed upon the platform.

The preferred type of apparatus for mechanically performing theoperation of packaging fruit is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive.The character F illustrates a section of a floor upon which the platformP is placed and to which it is pivotally connected by means of the hinge13.

It is to be understood that these settling platforms are generallyprovided in suitable numbers to handle the amount of business possessedby the particular packing house within which they are employed. They arealso arranged so that a single drive shaft may be employed for operatinga suitable number of the same.

The section of shafting 1li is rotatably supported, by any suitablemeans, so that the same will extend transversely of the platform andwill be related thereto as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Suitably keyed to theshaft 1% is an eccentrically mounted wheel 15 which is substantiallyenclosed by the collarmember 16 and is retained therein by means of theremovable annular ring 17, as best illustrated in Figs. (l and 7. InFig. 7, there are shown anti-friction rollers 18 which are positionedbetween the periphery of the wheel 15 and the inner annular face of thecollar member 16. This collar member 16 is provided with aboss 19projecting radially from its periphery, as illustrated. Suitablyconnected to the boss 19 and extending axially therefrom is a rod 20which is provided with a threaded outer end 21 to which is adjustablysecured the angular yoke member 22. This yoke member 22 is adapt-ed forbeing retained in different adjusted positions in respect to the rod 2Oby means of the lock nut 23.

Pivotally connected to the outer spaced ends 24; of this angular yoke 22is a connector 25 which consists of a pair of crossed, integrallyformed, offset tubular members 2G and 27. The tubular member 26 isdirectly pivotally connected to the said free ends 24s of the angularyoke 22 by means of the rivet or pivot-pin 28. Longitudinally adjustablyconnected to the tubular member 27 is a. rod 29 which is ofsubstantially twice the length of the rod 2O and extends downwardly tobe pivotally connected to the projecting tongue P of the platform P. Itwill be seen that the upper end 30 of this rod 29 is externally screwthreaded for receiving the lock nuts 31 which are employed foradjustably connecting the tubular portion 27 of the connector 25 to thesaid rod 29. It further will be seen that this rod 29 is provided,substantially midway of its length, with an offset arcuate portion 32which is positioned in horizontal alinement with the eccentricconnection between the l rod 2O and the shaft 14, as best illustrated inFig. l.

Suitably secured to the rod 29 and projectinglaterally horizontallytherefrom is an arm 33 having a cross piece 34 at its outer end to theouter ends of which are secured the springs 35. The rod 2O is provided,in horizontal alinement with the arm 33, with a pair of verticallyspaced laterally extending arms 86 which act as guides for the plate 37slidably connected thereto. Centrally positioned between these guidingarms 36 and extending in parallelism therewith, there is provided afeeding screw 38 which is rotatably connected to the rod 20 and isthreadedly connected to the plate 37. This feed screw 38 is furtherprovided with an operating handle 39 by means of which it can be rotatedin either direction as desired. connected to the free ends of thesprings 35 in the manner best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. It will beseen that these various elements provide an adjustable, yieldableconnection between the rods 20 and 29 at a point spaced below theirpoint of pivotal` connection.

In Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a standard or upright a9 which ispositioned laterally of the tongue P of the platform P and teri minatesa suitable distance below the drive shaft 14. Horizontally adjustablysecured to the upper end of this upright or standard 40 is an angleplate il which is provided with a rotatable roller 4-2 having its axisextending horizontally. ris shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this roller t2 ispositioned against or slidably engages the lower portion of the rod 29.

ln Figs. 1 .and 2, there is shown in dotted The free ends of the plate37 are 7 line what is intended to represent a container B which in thisparticular' illustration consists of a barrel. rifhis barrel B and itscontents, not shown, constitutes the object or objects which is to beoperated upon by this apparatus.

'lf he operation of this apparatus is as follows z-e By lirstconsidering the apparatus without a. load on the platform, asillustrated in Fig. 11, it will be understood that the rotation of theshaft 14 in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in thisfigure, the eccentric block 15 will be caused to rotate in the samedirection. Then the eccentric 15 is positioned in dead center with themajor portion of the eccentric below the shaft 14, the platform P willbe positioned in engagement with the fioor F. As the eccentric travelswith the shaft, the major portion of the same, after traveling ninetydegrees of a circle, will be positioned to the left of the shaft 14,when viewed from the end visible in this figure and the rods 2O and 29will have been moved perpendicularly one-half the distance of theirtotal distance of upward movement. The platform P will have been movedin a similar manner. It will be understood that on account of theconnection between the rods 2O and 29, furnished by the springs 35, thesaid rods will be retained in substantially parallel relation withrespect to each other. rPhe eccentric will have been moved intoengagement with the arcuate offset portion 32 of the` rod 29 and thesaid rod will have been moved away from the roller 42 until it extendsperpendicularly. As the shaft 14 continues to rotate, the eccentric willtravel therewith and after having traveled an additional ninety degreesof a circle, the major portion of the eccentric will be positioned on adead center above the shaft 14. It will be understood that the rods 20and 29 and the platform P have then been moved to their limits ofmovement in an upward direction. It must be remembered that the springs35 are drawing the rods 20 and 29 toward each other and that the pointai. which this drawing action is occurring is positioned below the pointof pivotal connection, 28, between these said rods. With the majorportion of the eccentric positioned on dead center above the shaft 14,the lower portion of the rod 29 will have been moved into engagementwith the roller 42. As the sha1" t 14 continues to rotate in a clockwisedirection, for an additional one-quarter of a complete revolution, theeccentric will be positioned as shown in Fig. 11 and the rods 20 and 29,with the platform P, will have been moved downwardly one-half thedistance of their total movement in the direction toward the floor F.During this quarter of a turn of the shaft 14, the upper portion of therod 29 and the entire length of the rod 20 will have been moved out ofparallelism and into an acute angle in respect to each other. This acuteangle is created or caused by the roller 42 which prevents the upperportion of the rod 29 from following the lateral movement of the rod 20,this acute angle continues to increase until it reaches its maximumwhich occurs when all of the elements are in their respective positionsas illustrated in Fig. 11. As the shaft 14 and eccentric wheel 15continue to rotate, the eccentric will reach its starting point with themajor portion of the same on the dead center below the shaft 14. At thistime the platform P will have been moved into engagen'ient with thefloor F. It will be noted that the platform has merely been pivotedupwardly and then downwardly and that no jolting of the same hasoccurred.

The apparatus has been illustrated in Figs. 1 and 8 to 10 inclusive witha load positioned upon the platform. For tracing the cycle of operationof the various elements under load, Figures 8 to 10 inclusive will bereferred to. Figure 8 shows the platform P resting upon the floor F andalso shows the eccentric wheel 15 on dead center below the shaft 14. Asthe shaft rotates in the direction of the arrow in Figs. 8 to 10inclusive, the major portion of the eccentric will move upwardly on theside of the shaft toward the rod 29. The eccentric will move the rod 29into a true vertical p0- sition and the springs 35 will retain the rod2O and the upper portion of the rod 29 in parallelism during theirupward movement. As the shaft 14 and eccentric wheel 15 continue torotate, the latter will be positioned with its major portion above theshaft 14 after the latter has made 'fan additional quarter of a turn. Itwill be noted at this point that as the shaft continues to rotate, theeccentric will be moved around the shaft in the direction of the arrowand the lower portion of the rod 29 will be moved into engagement withthe roller42. The lateral movement of the rod 29 then ceases, but therod 2O continues to move laterally. It will be apparent that the rodsare then moved out of parallelism and that an acute angle will be formedtherebetween. The springs 35, however, will still be exerting a force todraw the rods together. As soon as this acute angle is formed, it willbe apparent that the rod 2O is exerting an upward lateral pushing forceupon the rod 29. There is now two forces working opposite to each other,to wit: the load upon the platform P pulling downwardly upon the rod 29in an endeavor to cause the rod 20 to pivot in respect to the shaft 14and eccentric 15 for permitting the platform and its load to be droppedonto the floor and the springs 35 exerting a pulling force between therods 2O and 29 to retain them in parallel positions in respect to eachother. As the eccentric 15 continues to travel around the shaft 14C, theactute angle between the upper portion of the rod 29 and the rodi 20will be increased. It will be apparent that as this acute angleincreases, the strain upon the springs 35 will be increased and thedownward pull of the weighted platform will be aided. The downwardmovement of the eccentric l5 will continue to gradually lo-wer the rods2O and 2f) and the iifeighted platform P until the weight of theplatform, aided by the ever increasing acute angle between the upperportion of the rod 29 and the rod 20, overcomes the pulling force of thesprings 35. lVhen this occurs. the rods will snap over, as illustratedin Fig. l0 and the platform will be dropped onto the -Hoor. Thisdropping of the loaded platform will produce a jolt which will betransmitted to the object thereupon. As the shaft continues to rotatethe various elements will be returned to their respective positions, asillustrated in 8, and the second cycle of operation will occur.

The essential points to be noted in connection with the operation ofthis apparatus are as follows It will bel noted that the platform 'isalways lifted to a predetermined height and after reaching this heightit starts to descend. The acute angle between the rods 2() and 29 doesnot start to occur until the platform starts to descend. The dropping ofthe platform always occurs at some point during its descent.

As has been described, the platform will be gradually lowered until theweight of the same overcomes the force of the springsB whereupon theplatform will be dropped rapidly and will receive a jolt as it strikesthe floor. lt will be apparent from these facts that as the platform israised and lowered, receiving a jolt when it is lowered, by increasingthe weight on the platform, the springs will be overcome at increasingheights and the jolts received by the platform will increase inintensity in proportion to the increasing height at which the platformis dropped.

By increasing the tension of the springs 35, it will be apparent that agreater load will be required to overcome the same. Therefore, thejolting action can be stopped, notwithstanding the load upon theplatform, by placing a sufficient tension upon the springs 35.

lt is now believed that the construction and operation of the apparatusset forth in Figs. l to 1l inclusive will be understood by those skilledin the art. It will be apparent that the movement of the rods 20 and 29may be used for other purposes than operating a settling platform. Forinstance, the movement of the rod 29 might be utilized forintermittently opening and closing a valve of the Poppet type, theopening movement being gradual while the closing movement will be veryrapid. It is believed that this brief suggestion as to the possibilitiesof utilizing the movement of the various velements for differentpurposes will be apparent without suggesting any further adaptations.

lt is to be understood that the forms of this invention herewith shownand described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the sub-- joined claims. A

Having thus described the invention, I claim l. rlhe method of producinga graduated settling action of the contents of a container duringfilling of the latter, which method consists -in producing impactingmovements which vary in extent in successive stages.

2. The method of producing a graduated settling action of the contentsof a container during filling of the latterwhich method consists inproducing impacting movements which vary in extent in accordance withthe increasing load.

8. The method of producing a graduated settling action of the contentsof a container during filling of the latter, which method consists inproducing impacting movements which are repeatedly increased in extentover all previous movements.

4. The method of producing a graduated settling action of the contentsof a container during filling ofthe latter, which method.

consists in producing impacting movements which increase in extent, inaccordance with the increasing load.

5. rllhe method of producing a graduated settling action of the contentsof a container during filling of the latter, which methodconsists inproducing impacting movements of the container which progressivelyincrease in extent.

6. The method of producing a graduated settling action of the contentsof a container during filling of the latter, which method consists inproducing impacting movements of the container which vary in extent inaccordance with the increasing load.

7. The method of producing a graduated settling action of the contentsof a container during filling of the latter, which method consists inproducing intermittent impacting inovements which commence when thecontainer has received a predetermined portion of its intended load andwhich vary in extent until the container receives its full load.

8. The method of producing a graduated settling action of the contentsof a container during filling of the latter, which method consists inproducing intermittent impacting movements which commence when thecontainer has received a predetermined portion of its intended load andwhich vary in extent, until the container receives its entire load, inaccordance with the increasing load.

9. In the packaging of fruit and the like, whe-rein the contents of thecontainer are caused to settle into transportable condition by asuccession of jolts applied to the container during filling of thelatter, and where'- in the jolting action is provided by moving thecontainer support upwardly out of a normal position and permitting it todrop to its normal position, the method of producing a graduatedsettling action of the contents, said method consisting` in varying theintensity of the applied jolt as the filling proceeds by varying thedistance through which the support drops.

10. In the packaging ot fruit and the like,

wherein the contents of the container are caused to settle intotransportable condition by a succession of jolts applied to thecontainer during filling of the latter, and wherein the jolting actionis provided by meving the container support upwardly out ci.l a normalposition and permitting it to drop to its normal position, the method ofproducing a graduated settling action of the contents, said methodconsisting in increasing the intensity of the applied jolt as theiilling proceeds by progressively increasing the distance through whichthe support drops.

11. In the packaging of fruit and the like, wherein the contents of thecontainer are caused to settle into transportable condition by asuccession of jolts applied to the container during filling of the same,the method of producing a graduated settling action of the contents,said method consisting of varying the intensity of the applied jolt asthe iilling proceeds, the intensity variations being varied from thoseresulting from the normal variations produced by weight in the fillingoperation.

12. In the packaging of fruit and the like, wherein the contents of thecontainer are caused to settle into transportable condition by asuccession of jolts applied to the container during the filling of thesame, the method of producing a graduated settling action of thecontents, said method consisting in increasing the intensity of the joltas the iilling proceeds, the intensity increases being varied from thoseresulting from the normal variations produced by weight in the fillingoperation.

13. In the packaging of fruit and the like, wherein the contents ot thecontainer are caused to settle into transportable condition by asuccession of jolts applied to the container during iilling of the same,the method of producing a graduated settling' action of the contents,said method consisting in progressively increasing the intensity of thejolt as the illing proceeds, the intensity increases being varied fromthose resulting from the normal increases produced by weight in theiilling operation.

14. In the packaging of fruit and the like, wherein the contents of thecontainer are caused to settle into transportable condition by asuccession ot' jolts applied to the container during filling of thesame, the method o' producing a graduated settling action et thecontents, said method consisting in varying the intensity of the appliedjolt proportionately with the variation in weight of the content, theintensity variations being varied from those resulting from the normalvariations produced by weight in Jdie iilling operation.

15. In the packaging of fruit and the like, wherein the contents of thecontainer are caused to settle into transportable condition by asuccession of jolts applied to the container during iilling of the same,the method of producing a graduated settling action of the contents,said method consisting in increasing the intensity of the applied joltproportionately to the increase in weight oiE the content, the intensityincreases being varied from those resulting from the normal increasesproduced by weight in the iilling operation.

16. In the packaging of fruit and the like, wherein the contents of thecontainer are caused to settle into transportable condition by asuccession oif jolts applied to the container during i'illing of thesame, the method of producing a graduated settling action oi thecontents, said method consisting in progressively increasing theintensity of the applied jolt proportionately with the progressiveincrease in the weight of the content present during the jolting, theintensity increases being varied from those resulting from 'the normalincreases produced by weight in the filling operation.

17. In a device of the class described, a supporting member, a loadbearing member pivotally connected at one end thereto, and meansconnected to the free end of the load bearing member for raising saidend in respect to the supporting member and for dropping the said endonto the supporting member from varying elevations for producing joltsof different intensity.

18. In a device of the class described, a supporting member, a loadbearing member pivotally supported thereby and adapted to have its loadweight increased during operation, and means connected to said membersfor raising the load bearing member in respect to the supporting memberand for dropping the load bearing` member onto the supporting memberfrom varying ele ations for producing jolts of diiTerent CII intensity,the Velevation 'from which said tion therewith, a rotatable shaft,ran`d`means dropping starts being governed by the variations in load weight.

19. In a fruit settling apparatus, a support, a platform pivotallysupported' thereby, a drive shaft, a pair of rods pivotally connected inseries and pivotally connected to said platform, resilient meansconnecting said rods intermediate their ends, and means for connectingsaid shaft to one of said rods for causing said platform to operate whensaid shaft is rotated.

20. In a fruit settling apparatus, a support, a platform pivotallysupported thereby, a drive shaft, a pair of rods pivotally connected attheir adjacent ends, means for yieldably 4holding said rods inparallelism with each other, means for pivotally connecting one of saidrods to said platform, and means for connecting the other of said rodsto said shaft in such a manner that the rotation of said shaft willcause said platform to oscillate.

2l. In a fruit settling apparatus, a support, a platform pivotallysupported thereby, a drive shaft, a pair of rods pivotally connected attheir adjacent ends, means for pivotally connecting one of said rods tosaid platform, and means for connecting the other of said rods to saidshaft in such a manner that the rotation of said shaft will cause. saidplatform to be raised and lowered in respect to said support.

22. In a fruit settling apparatus, a support, a platform pivotallysupported thereby, a drive shaft, a pair of rods pivotally connected attheir adjacent ends, means for yieldably holding said rods inparallelism with each otliei, means for pivotally connecting one of saidrods to said platform, and means for connecting the other of said rodsto said shaft in such a manner that the rotation of said shaft willcause said platform to be raised from and dropped onto said support forproducing a jolting action.

23. In a fruit settling apparatus, a support, a platform pivotallysupported thereby, a drive shaft, a pair of rods pivotally connected attheir adjacent ends, means for yieldably holding said rods inparallelism with each other, means for pivotally connecting one of saidrods to said platform, and means for connecting the other of said rodsto said shaft in such a manner that the rotation of 'said shaft willcause said platform to be raised from said support and dropped onto saidsupport from different elevations, the elevations from which saidplatform is dropped being governed by the load weight oii said platform.

24. In an apparatus, a rod, an element connected to one end of said rod,a second iod connected to the first mentioned rod at a point spaced fromits connection with said element and extending in the sainedirecconnecting said shaft to the second rod for causing rotation ofsaid shaft to move said element in opposite directions thru a givenpath.

25. In an apparatus, a rod, an eleinent connected to one end of saidrod, a second l rod extendingin the same direction as the firstmentioned rod, means for adjustabljl and pivotally connecting one end ofthe second rod to the free end portion ofthe first mentioned rod, arotatable. shaft, and means connecting said shaft to the free end of thesecond rodv for causing rotation of said shaft to move said element inopposite directions thru a given path.

26. In an apparatus, a rod, aiielement connected to one end of said rod,av second rod connected to the first mentioned rod at a point spacedfrom its connection with said element and extending in the samedirection therewith, means for yieldably drawing the intermediateportions of said rods toward each other, a rotatable shaft, and meansconnecting satid shaft @to the second rod for causing rotation of saidshaft to move said element in opposite directions thru a given path.

27. In an apparatus, a rod, an element connected to one end of said rod,a second rod extending in the same direction as t-lie first mentionedrod, means for adjustably and pivotally connecting one end of the secondrod to the free end portion of the first mentioned rod, means foryieldably drawing the intermediate portions of said rods toward eachother, a rotatable shaft, and means connecting said shaft to the freeend of the second rod for causing rotation of said shaft to move saidelement in opposite directions thru a given path.

28. In a fruit settling apparatus, a support, a platform pivotallysupported thereby, a drive shaft, a pair of rods pivotally connected inseries and pivotally connected to said platform, adjustable resilientmeans connecting said rods intermediate their ends, and means forconnecting said shaft to one of said rods for causing said platform tooperate when said shaft is rotated.

29. In a fruit settling apparatus, a support, a platform pivotallysupported thereby, a drive shaft, a pair of rods pivotally connected attheir adjacent ends, means for yieldably holding said rods inparallelism with each other, means for varying the tension o'f saidyieldable holding means, means for pivotally connecting one of said rodsto said platform, and means for connecting the other of said rods tosaid shaft in such a manner that the rotation of said shaft will causesaid platform to oscillate.

30. In a fruit settling apparatus, a support, a platform pivotallysupported thereby, a drive shaft, a pair of rods pivotally connected attheir adjacent ends, adjustable means for yieldably holding said rods inparallelism with each other, means for pivotally connecting` one of saidrods to said platform, and means for connectingr the othe' of said rodsto said shaft in such a manner that the rotation of said shaft willcause said platform to be raised from and dropped onto said support forproducing a jolting action.

31. In a fruit settling apparatus, a. support, a platform pivotallysupported thereby, a drive shaft, a pair of rods pivotally connected inseries and pivotally connected to said platform, a pair of springsconnecting said rods intermediate their ends, means for varying thetension of said springs, and

means for connecting said shaft to one of Said rods for causing saidplatform to operate when said shaft is rotated.

32. In a fruit settling apparatus, a support, a platform pivotallysupported thereby, al drive shaft, a pair of rods piyotally connected attheir adjacent ends, means for yieldably holdingsaid rods in parallelismWith each other, means for pivotally connecting one of said rods to saidplatform, an eccentric on said shaft, and means for connecting` theother of said rods to said eccentric for causing rotation of said shaftto pivot said platform.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

HUGI-I R. BLACK.

